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James' Australia grand tour: 14 days, Beijing to Shanghai
A 14-day mid-range trip through Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Lijiang, Guilin, Shanghai, budgeted at $4,200 (≈ $300/day).
real-trip-budgets2026-10-18
At a glance
- Traveler
- James
- Nationality
- Australia
- Travel style
- mid-range
- Month of travel
- September 2026
- Total cost
- $4,200
- Per day
- $300
- Days
- 14
Visa note
Australian citizens are 30-day visa-free. James entered without a visa.
Paying your way
ANZ Visa linked to Alipay. No FTF on foreign transactions.
Highlights
- Sydney → Beijing (Air China, 11 hours direct)
- Great Wall, Terra Cotta Warriors, Giant Pandas
- Lijiang Old Town and Naxi culture
- Li River karst scenery
Cost breakdown
| Flights | $1,100 |
|---|---|
| Accommodation | $1,680 |
| Meals | $840 |
| Transit | $300 |
| Attractions | $200 |
| Misc | $80 |
Day by day
Day 1 — Beijing
≈ $300- Arrived Beijing Capital T3
Day 2 — Beijing
≈ $300- Forbidden City (morning)
- Jingshan Park (sunset)
Day 3 — Beijing
≈ $300- Great Wall Mutianyu (full day)
Day 4 — Xi'an
≈ $300- HSR Beijing → Xi'an (4.5 hours)
- Terra Cotta Warriors (afternoon)
Day 5 — Chengdu
≈ $300- HSR Xi'an → Chengdu (3 hours)
- Panda Base (7:30 AM)
Day 6 — Chengdu
≈ $300- Leshan Giant Buddha (day trip)
Day 7 — Lijiang
≈ $300- Flight Chengdu → Lijiang (1.5 hours)
- Lijiang Old Town evening
Day 8 — Lijiang
≈ $300- Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (day trip)
Day 9 — Guilin
≈ $300- Flight Lijiang → Guilin (2 hours)
- Elephant Trunk Hill evening
Day 10 — Yangshuo
≈ $300- Li River boat to Yangshuo (4 hours)
- West Street evening
Day 11 — Shanghai
≈ $300- HSR Guilin → Shanghai (8 hours via high-speed)
Day 12 — Shanghai
≈ $300- The Bund morning
- Yu Garden afternoon
Day 13 — Shanghai
≈ $300- French Concession (full day)
Day 14 — Shanghai
≈ $300- Shanghai Museum (morning)
- Departed Shanghai Pudong